Aeroplane, flying-machine, and the like.



G. P. B. SMITH.

ABROPLANE, FLYING MACHINE, AND THE LIKE.

APPLICATION nun D110. 16, 1909.

1,039,456. Patented Sept. 34, 1912.

W Z! A568 [IQ/611102".

0 1A. n/M 7 P @M W 1 W GEORGE PERCY IBILAGG SMITH, OF MITCHAM, ENGLAND.

AEROPLANE, FLYING-MACHINE, AND THE LIKE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 24, 1912.

Application filed December 16, 1909. Serial No. 533,427.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE PERCY Bnaoo SMITH, a subject of the King of Great Britain, residing at 44 Caithness road, Mitcham, Surrey, England, engineer, have invented new and useful Improvements in or Relating to Aeroplanes, Flying-Machines, and the Like, of which the following is a specification.

This invention has relation to that type of flying machine commonly known as the aeroplane.

The object of my invention is mainly to provide a flying machine so constructed and arranged that it will automatically regain its lateral equilibrium, should its balance be disturbed during flight by gusts of wind orany other temporary cause.

In the accompanying drawings-Figure 1 is a perspective view of a flying machine embodying my invention, Fig 2 is a perspective View of the main planes showing an alternative arrangement of the bottom aeroplane.

With reference to Fig. 1, a and 7) are superimposed aeroplanes forming the main sustaining surfaces or wing planes which are situated with their greater diameter transversely to the machines direction of flight. The top aeroplane a which acts chiefly as a sustaining surface should in preference be lower in the center part at a; than at the ends o The bottom aeroplane b which is instrumental in preserving the lateral equilibrium is curved outward in such a manner that its ends or outer extremities 1) rise obliquely on both sides to those of the top aeroplane at aflto which they should preferably be oined, although they may terminate at a pdint, within the space indicated by the dotted line 6?, which is equal toabout one thirdof the distance which separates the said top and bottom aeroplanes at the center of their transverse diameters. The frame-work may be constructed of Wood or light metal tubing made to the requisite shape and having vertical struts c between the aeroplanes a and Z) the whole being braced and stayed in the usual manner by the diagonal wires a The material which forms the said aeroplanes preferably consists of a textile fabric and may be fastened to the framework by any suitable means. A horizontal plane a? is mounted in the front part of the machine upon the outrigger e.

The said plane provides for the raising and a lowering or the vertical steering of the ma- 7 chine by being tilted upward or downward in a longitudinal direction from the pilots seat f]; for instance by means of the lever d through the medium of a connecting rod d. The horizontal steering is cli'ected by means of two horizontal planes'c; preferably situated immediately in front of the main planes on the right and left hand sides respectively of the longitudinal axis of the machine. The outer ends of these planes are pivoted at c and are capable of being tilted simultaneously upward or downward in opposite directions and are actuated from the pilots seat 9 by any suitable means, for instance, by the tiller 0 through the medium of a vertical shaft 0 and the toothed gearing c which is supported by a bracket 0 To steer the machine to the left, the tiller 0 must moved forward, thereby causing the plane 0 on the right hand side of the machine to be tilted with its front edge downward while the corresponding plane on the left hand side of the machine 1s simultaneously tilted in the opposite direction. should be moved backward, thereby reversing the positions of the said planes 0. To steer in a'straight direction the tiller 0 should remain in its normal position, so that the said planes 0 are level one with the other. A boom or pole f is situated longitudinally, preferably between the main planes, and extends partly in front and partly bchind the lateral axis of the machine; bcing held in position by clips f or by any other suitable means, in such a manner that it is capable of being adjusted backward or forward; its purpose is that of determining the longitudinal balance ofthe machine. The said boom need not necessarily form part of the machine when complete. Itis obvious that when a machine is constructed and put to the test it may be found that its longitudinal balanccis defective. be adjusted backward or forward as occasion may require until the necessary balance If such is the case the boom should- To steer to the right the tiller 0 rary cause gular surface, the ends of which rise obliquely on both sides to those of the top aeroplane.

It is due to the shape of the bottom aeroplane that the lateral equilibrium is regained. For instance, if from some tempothe machine is tilted transversely in either direction, it will be seen that the effective area of sustaining surface on that side of the machine which is tilted downward is increased; while that of the upt-ilted side is correspondingly decreasec with the result that the machine automatically regains its normal position, in which the sustaining surface is equal on both sides. It will further be seen that owing to the varying degree of the curve or angle of the said bottom aeroplane the greater the degree to which the machine 15 tilted, transversely, the farther from its longitudinal axis becomes the effective sustaining surface presented on the down-tilted side, the result being that a greater leverage is exerted to bring the machine back to its normal posi= tion. Furthermore, a flying machine with the bottom aeroplane shaped in this manner is less likely to have its transverse balance disturbed by uprising currents of air. For instance, should such'a current strike the upturned end of the said aeroplane, its tendency would be to glance off in a more or less outward direction; at thesame timethe shock imparted to'the machine would tend to shift its position horizontally, instead of tilting it transversely. Furthermore, the combination of the top and bottom aeroplanes, in the manner described and illustrated herein, provides a flying machine with adequate sustaining surface, together with a high degree of lateral automatic stability.

The planes 0 efiect the horizontal steering,

for the reason that the uptilted plane causes that side of the machine on which it is site uated to ascend and the downtilted plane on the opposite side of the machine causes that side to descend; as the descending side travels forward at a higher rate of speed than the ascending side, the machine is steered V horizontally to the right or left as the case may be. When both the said planes are at the same angle the machine is steered in a straight course, as the rate of travel in such case is equal on both sides. It is obvious that the tilting of the said planes in opposite directions would tend to turn the machine on its longitudinal axis; but this action immediately it begins is counteracted by the outer upturned or curved extremity of the bottom aeroplane, which when the machine is swung outward by the centrifugal force created in the horizontal turning movement acts in the same manner as an elevating plane. The planes 0 may be situated in a similar position behind the main planes instead of in front; in such case their action in fulfilling their function would. be reversed since their position is to the rear of the lateral axisof the machine.

The horizontal plane (Z which provides for the vertical, steering of the machine may be placed behind the main-planes instead of in front, or one may be placed in front and one Toy or miniature flying inachines may be constructed with aeroplanes of the shape described and illustrated herein. In suchcase theboom f may beused tomount the elastic upon, when elastic is used as the niotive power.

Having now particularly described and ascertainedthe nature of my said invention and in' what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is 1. An aeroplane comprising a top plane set at a dihedral angle, a bottom plane',-the ends of which rise obliquely and extend ap' proximately to the ends of said upper plane,

and a plurality of horizontal steering planes, said curved ends of the bottom plane being adapted to counteract the turning movement on the longitudinal axis set upby the horizontal steering planes.

2. An aeroplane comprising a top plane I set at a dihedral angle, a bottom plane, the ends of which rise obliquely and extend approximately to the ends of said upper plane, a plurality of horizontal steering planes located on either side of the longitudinal axis of the aeroplane, and a vertical steering plane located in front of said aeroplane.

3. An aeroplane comprisinga top plane set at a dihedral angle, a bottom plane, the

ends of which rise obliquely and extend approximately to the ends of said upper plane,

a plurality of horizontal steering planes, a vertical steering plane, and an adjustable balancing boom.

GEORGE rarer BRAGG SMITH."

Witnesses:

JOHN E. BOUSFIELD, C. Gr. REDFERN. 

